Three Miyetti Allah Leaders Arrested in Kwara for Sponsoring Bandit Kidnappings Amid Ongoing Military Crackdown

In a significant breakthrough in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria’s North Central region, security operatives have arrested three senior members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) in Kwara State for allegedly aiding and sponsoring multiple kidnapping operations carried out by Fulani bandit groups. The suspects, all elderly Fulani leaders aged over 60, are accused of providing logistical and financial support to criminal networks responsible for a series of abductions that have terrorised communities across the state.

According to a security report obtained by NaijaChoice News, the arrested individuals, including the Kwara State chapter President Idris Abubakar, have reportedly confessed to facilitating these operations. Investigations revealed that the Miyetti Allah leaders played key roles in sponsoring bandit groups, enabling them to carry out kidnappings and other terror activities in the region. This development comes as a shock to many, given the association’s public stance on promoting peaceful herding practices, but it underscores the complex interplay between community leadership and criminal elements in Nigeria’s ongoing banditry crisis.

Efforts by NaijaChoice News to reach the spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, for confirmation were unsuccessful. In a brief WhatsApp response, she stated, “I will get back to you, please,” indicating that official details may be forthcoming.

The arrests are linked to broader security operations in Kwara State, where coordinated military air strikes and ground troop assaults have intensified against bandit hideouts. Over the past weeks, these operations have targeted notorious camps in the Baba Sango axis of Ifelodun Local Government Area, Gbugbu forest in Edu LGA, and Lata community in Patigi LGA. Preliminary reports from the theatre of operations indicate that several bandit camps have been completely destroyed, with many suspects neutralised and others fleeing with serious injuries, including gunshot wounds.

The sustained offensive, which began earlier in January 2026, combines aerial bombardments with ground maneuvers aimed at dismantling the logistics, leadership structures, and operational bases of kidnapping and terror gangs along the Kwara-Niger axis. Security sources describe the bandits as being thrown into disarray, with their positions displaced and heavy casualties inflicted. However, military authorities have expressed grave concerns over the role of informants and collaborators within local communities, who are allegedly leaking information on troop movements and undermining the operations.

“The activities of moles and informants within different communities are impeding our efforts by giving out information about troops’ movements,” a security report noted. In response, the military has urged residents in the affected areas to remain vigilant and cooperate fully with security agencies. Community leaders in Ifelodun, Edu, and Patigi LGAs have been specifically called upon to sensitise their people on the dangers of shielding criminals, emphasising that such actions only prolong insecurity and endanger innocent lives.

This crackdown is part of a larger national effort to combat banditry, which has plagued states like Kwara, Niger, and others in recent years. Analysts believe that targeting high-profile enablers like these Miyetti Allah leaders could disrupt the funding and support chains for bandit groups, potentially leading to a reduction in kidnappings and attacks.

NaijaChoice News will continue to monitor developments in this story and provide updates as more information becomes available. Residents are advised to report suspicious activities to the authorities to aid in restoring peace to the region.